How to Read the Gospels (Getting to Know Jesus)

If you want to get to know Jesus — and that's the heart of Christianity — the Gospels are where to go. These four books are the best starting point in the whole Bible. Here's a simple guide to reading them well.

What the Gospels are

The Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — are four accounts of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 'Gospel' means 'good news.' They're not neutral biographies but eyewitness-based testimonies written to help you know and trust Jesus.

Why there are four

Four accounts give a fuller picture, like witnesses describing the same person from different angles. Matthew writes for a Jewish audience, showing Jesus as the promised Messiah. Mark is fast and action-packed. Luke is careful and compassionate, highlighting the outsider. John is reflective and theological, focused on who Jesus is.

Where to start

For a first read, Mark is ideal — it's the shortest and moves quickly, giving you the whole story fast. Then John is wonderful for going deeper into Jesus' identity and meaning. Matthew and Luke fill in more of His teaching and parables.

How to read them

Read a section at a time, imagining you're there. Notice what Jesus does, how He treats people (especially the overlooked), what He teaches, and how people respond to Him. Ask: what does this show me about who Jesus is? Let Him come alive as a real person, not a distant figure.

Read to meet, not just to learn

The goal isn't only information but encounter. As you read, you're not just studying a historical figure — you're getting to know the living Jesus. Many people find that reading the Gospels slowly and prayerfully is where faith first becomes personal.

So open Mark this week and simply meet Jesus in the pages. The Gospels have introduced more people to Him than anything else ever written — and they're waiting to introduce you.